Vehicle-fender



c. CANDI DO.

VEHICLE FENDER.

APPUCATION FILED DEC. 1,1920.

Patented Feb. 15, 192i.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- C. CANDIDO. VEHLCLE FENDER. APPLICATION FILED- DEC. 1. 1920.

1 3 8, 3 7 Patentad Feb. 15, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- vwewlioz C. CANDIDO.

VEHICLE FENDER;

v APPLICATSON FILED DEC. 1, I920. 3 3 3 7, I Patented Feb. 15,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 3 mm mt ing said member to iir s barrenera COSIMO CANDZDO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE-FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921'.

Application filed December 1, 1920. Serial No. 427,570.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known'that I, COSIMO CANDmo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bronx, New York city, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Fenders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle fenders, and it comprises a pair of pivoted, curved arms adapted to form a grapple, means for automatically closing said arms, means for normally maintaining said arms in open, operative position, said means comprising a member adapted to be removably arranged between said arms, and means for'displacpermit operation of said device, said means comprising a trigger ongaging said member and normally maintaining it in position, and operating;' means for said trigger comprising a flexible element having a portion thereof arranged in front of the vehicle, whereby the trigger is released when an object or person is struck by the vehicle and the closed.

In the present invention, 1 have provided a fender for automobiles or other vehicles in which a pair of curved arms are arranged on the front of the vehicle, and springs ire provided which tend to normally close the arms. The arms are held in open position by means of suitable trigger actuated mechanism whereby they will automatically close when an object or person is hit by the machine, and the object or person will be caughtbetween the arms and prevented from passing under the wheels of the machine. The arms may be provided with suitable cushioninn means whereby the shock of the collision is lessened and serious injury avoided.

The invention further comprises novel operating means including a plate adapted to be arranged between the arms when the arms are in open position, and a trigger engaging a portion of said plate to hold it in position. lVhen the trigger is operated and the plate is free to move forward, the arms are closed by the pressure of springs bearing against them. The trigger is operated by means of a flexible cable or cord arranged over the trigger, and extending in front of the vehicle whereby the pressure exerted on the cable by a person being; hit will release the trigger and operate the fender.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown an advantageous embodiment of this invention. In the showing,

Figure I is a plan View of the device showing it in open or operative position.

Fig. II is a similar view showing the device closed.

Fig. III is a side elevation of the fender in closed position.

F TV is an enlarged sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. I. V

Fig. V is a detailed perspective view of the locking plate; and i Fig. V1 is a detail view showing the position of curved arms in closed position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a rigid stationary member which may be secured to the front of a motor vehicle (not shown) in any suit able manner. A pair of arms 2 are arranged near each end of the'supporting member and extend outwardly therefrom. These arms receive a supporting member or guard 3 having' its ends curved or extended out- :ardly as at i. A U-shaped member 5 is secured to the stationary member and arranged intermediate its ends. A plurality of bolts 6 are arranged in openings in the stationary member the bolts being retained therein by nuts 7 1 Springs 8 are arranged on these bolts and positioned between the stationary member, and a movable member 9 slidably mounted on the bolts, the member 9 being; normally held in outer position by the springs. The outward movement is limited by the bolt heads 10 which are too large to pass through the'o aenings therein. As shown the ends of the spring may be received in cups 11 arranged on the bolts.

A. pair of curved fender arms 12 are pivotally supported on the outer end of the o -shaped member 5. The inner ends of the fender arms are flattened as at 13 and are adapted to be received between the arms of the U-shaped member (see Fig. IV), a pivot pin le passing}; through the ends of the arms and being secured to the U-shaped member. The flattened portions of the fender arms are adapted to pass through an aperture 15 in the slidable member 9 (see Fig. VI) and the pressure of springs 8 is adapted to force the'slidable member outwardly beyond the pivot 14 nd close the fender arms (see Figs. 11 and VI.

T he fender arms are held in open position by means of a butterfly member comprising a main portion 16 and a pair of curved arms 17 which are adapted to rest against the fender arms as shown and hold the slidable member 9 in set position against the tension of the springs. This butterfly mem her is provided with a trigger engaging portion 18 which. engages the hammer 19 of a gun trigger 20 to hold the fender in operaative position. The trigger may be mounted in a suitable bracket 21 secured to the frame of the machine.

The trigger is operated by means of a flexible element, such as a rope or cable 22 which passes over the finger piece 23 and through a guide ring 2%. Eye bolts25 may be arranged on the frame of the machine to serve as guides for the flexible element, the ends of the flexible elements being secured to links 26 pivoted in rings 27 on the arms 4. The opposite ends of the links are connected by a coil spring 28 extending across the front of thefender arms. The fender arms may be provided with cushioning members 29 V In operation, the device is mounted on the front of a vehicle and the parts set in the position shown in Fig. 1, the springs 8 being under tension, and the fender arms 12 being open. The parts are retained in this position by the butterfly member, the curved arms 17 of said member contacting with the fender arms to retain them open. The buti springs 8 the force of the blow if a person is struck,

terfly member is held in position by engagement of trigger portion 18 and hammer 19. When an object gets in front of the vehicle and is struck, the coil spring 28 moves inwardly and the ends of the pivotedlinks 26 to which the spring is, attached are moved toward eachother. The opposite ends of the links are moved outwardly applying suflicient pressure to the flexible element 22 to operate the finger piece 23 of the trigger and release the butterfly member. The then force the slidab'le member 9 outwardly to the position shown in rigs. II and VI and draw the arms 12together.

The butterfly member may be secured to a portion of the tender or vehicle by a chain or cord so that it will not be lostwhen it is released. The cushioning members 29 break and the closing of arms'12 prevent the pen son from passing under the wheels of the vehicle, thus avoiding serious injury.

What I claim is 7 V 1. A vehicle fender comprising a palr of pivoted arms, a slldable member to close said arms, springs arranged to exert apre sure on said slidable member, a plate engaging said arms to retain themin open position, and means for automatically releasing said plate when an object is struck by the vehicle.

2. A vehicle fender comprising a. pair of pivoted arms, a slidable member to close said arms, springs arranged to exert a pressure on said slidable member, a plate engaging said arms to retain them in open position, and means for automaticallyreleasing said plate when an object is struck by the vehicle, said slidable member being adapted to close said arms, aplate engaging said arms to normally retain them in .open position, and means for releasing said plate when an object is struck by the vehicle.

3. A vehicle fender comprising a pair of pivoted arms, a slidable member to close said arms, springs arranged toexert a pres-f position, said plate being provided with a triggenengaging portion, a trigger mounted on a suitable support and adapted to engage said trigger, engaging poition, a flexible element engaging said trigger,,and means for supplying pressure to said flexible element when an object is struck by the vehicle. 1 I

Y 5,}; vehicle fender comprising a pair of pivoted arms, a slidable member 'toclose said arms, springs arranged to exert a pressure on said "slidable member, a plate engaging said arms to retain them in open position, said plate being provided with a trigger engaging portion, a trigger mounted on a suitable support and adapted. to engage said trigger engaging portion, a flexible element engaging said trigger, a pivoted link to which said flexible element is secured, and

means for moving said link on its pivotwhen an Object is struck by the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

f oosnio oANmno. 

